Many credit card providers offer their customers a service package consisting of bonus programs, starting credit and more. That sounds tempting, but it’s not worth it for everyone.
Paying for groceries, renting a rental car, booking the next flight – credit cards are practical and have numerous advantages compared to a classic EC card. If you travel abroad a lot, you can hardly avoid a credit card. However, many providers offer their customers far more than just the option of paying for goods and services flexibly at home and abroad, and entice them with numerous advantages. An overview.
American Express Platinum Card: 150 euros restaurant credit annually and more
Paying by credit card is particularly practical when traveling abroad. Having to worry about exchanging money beforehand is then no longer necessary. Anyone who travels a lot for work can benefit from bonuses, loyalty programs and other extras – the top dog here is the Platinum Card from American Express.
The credit card provider gives its customers, for example, a restaurant credit of 150 euros per year, which can be redeemed in more than 1,400 partner restaurants in 20 countries. Another extra is: 120 euros annual entertainment credit for streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. New customers also receive 55,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus, which can be redeemed for prizes or vouchers, or alternatively 200 euros starting credit.
In order to receive this, however, cardholders have to spend 10,000 euros on their credit card in the first six months – a considerable sum. Therefore, the map should be of particular interest to those who fly a lot, stay in hotels and eat out. Existing customers can also get the new bonuses if they are willing to pay an additional five euros a month for the credit card.
Here it goes to the Amex offer
What does the American Express Platinum Card offer?
- Annual restaurant credit of 150 euros, redeemable in participating restaurants
- Entertainment credit of 120 euros per year for selected streaming services
- Participation in the MR bonus program (one point for every euro spent)
- 200 euros Sixt Ride driving credit per year
- 200 euros travel credit (including for flights or hotel accommodation)
- 90 euros shopping credit
- Status updates for hotel, airline or rental car partners
- Insurance package (including international health or travel cancellation insurance)
- Cost: 60 euros per month
Alternative: Lufthansa Miles & More with 4,000 miles as a welcome gift
But not only Amex is adding bonuses and functionality: The Lufthansa Miles & More Gold Credit Card starts with 4,000 award miles as a welcome bonus. The welcome package also includes a voucher for a weekend rental with Avis and a one-off 15 percent discount in the Worldshop. A monthly fee of EUR 11.50 is due for the Miles & More Gold Credit Card.
Here it goes to the Miles & More offer
This is what the Miles & More Gold Credit Card offers:
- 4,000 premium miles welcome bonus
- Bonus program for premium miles with unlimited validity (one mile for two euros spent)
- Including insurance package when traveling such as travel cancellation or international health insurance
- Possibility to book additional packages
- Google and Apple Pay
- One gigabyte of free data volume for mobile surfing abroad (a total of three times a year)
- Cost: 11.50 euros per month
Which credit cards are still worthwhile? Here it goes to .
Platinum Card or Lufthansa Miles & More: For whom is the credit card worthwhile?
For those who only want to pay for their vacation or purchases with a credit card from time to time, neither option is an option. Both the Amex Platinum and the Lufthansa Miles & More are primarily aimed at people who travel a lot and use their credit cards accordingly. Anyone who chooses Amex Platinum or Miles & More Gold should definitely calculate beforehand how much can be saved by participating in the respective bonus programs and the benefits offered.
In the case of the bonus programs, attention should also be paid to possible restrictions: Can points only be redeemed at certain shops? When do they expire? Ultimately, it’s about weighing up whether the fees for additional services are worth the money. It is also important not to repay credit card debt in installments, as these are often associated with high interest rates.
Source: Stern
